Near Reidsville in Rockingham County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Lenox Castle
Photographed by Michael Buckner, June 2, 2022
1. Lenox Castle Marker
Erected 1970 by Department of Archives and History. (Marker Number J-59.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.
Location. 36° 18.257′ N, 79° 33.182′ W. Marker is near Reidsville, North Carolina, in Rockingham County. It is on North Carolina Route 150 0.3 miles north of Somers Loop, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3249 NC-150, Reidsville NC 27320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: High Rock Ford (approx. 3.7 miles away); First Public School in N.C. (approx. 4.4 miles away); Alfred M. Scales (approx. 5.2 miles away); Calvin Graves (approx. 6.9 miles away); Bethesda Church (approx. 7 miles away); Governor Reid House (approx. 7.1 miles away); Piedmont Railroad (approx. 7.2 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reidsville.
Also see . . . A History of Lenox Castle.
Soon after the American Revolution, but more frequently towards the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century, natural springs became one of the many new "fads" and quickly became fashionable all across the country. This was also true in North Carolina, and even Rockingham County, which boasted a well-known resort at Rockingham Springs in the 1780s (perhaps earlier).(Submitted on November 27, 2022, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina.)
By the late 1790s, Mr. John Lenox had acquired Rockingham Springs and renamed it to Lenox Castle. Residents of neighboring Moravian communities, such as Salem in nearby Stokes County (at the time - now Forsyth), recorded their visits to the springs, and in 1790, Alexander Martin, then governor of North Carolina, convened a meeting of the Council of State here. John Lenox equipped his resort with a patented shower and soon began advertising it as "The Castle of Thundertontrenck." At nearby High Rock, gentlemen could engage in horse racing, cockfighting, and playing cards. This was truly the place for high-rollers.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2022, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 844 times since then and 98 times this year. Last updated on January 28, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photo 1. submitted on November 27, 2022, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
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